DRS Anglo-Scottish Rail Freight: Sustainable Transport in the UK

DRS launches a new rail freight service using Class 88 locomotives, offering an eco-friendly option for freight transport across a 330-mile route.

DRS Anglo-Scottish Rail Freight: Sustainable Transport in the UK
November 16, 2025 2:48 pm

 

Introduction

Direct Rail Services (DRS) will launch a new rail freight service using its Class 88 locomotives along a 330-mile route, offering an environmentally friendly alternative for freight transport. The service is the fourth Anglo-Scottish rail service by DRS.

DRS Rail Service Launch

The new service, initially a trial, will be the fourth Anglo-Scottish rail service operated by Direct Rail Services (DRS). The route covers nearly the entire length of England. The service aims to attract new rail freight customers.

Environmental Benefits

The service will utilize DRS’s environmentally friendly Class 88 locomotives. Gottfried Eymer, NTS’s Managing Director for Rail, highlighted that the service will run on electricity and produce no exhaust emissions. Each train has the capacity to remove approximately 30 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) from the roads.

Customer Benefits

The service is designed to accommodate goods from multiple customers, which is ideal for businesses that want to use rail but don’t have the volume for their own dedicated train.

Additional Information

The new service will operate along a 330-mile route.

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Conclusion

The new rail freight service by DRS will utilize Class 88 locomotives, offering an environmentally friendly option for freight transport across a 330-mile route. It is designed to accommodate goods from multiple customers.

Company Summary

Direct Rail Services (DRS): A rail freight operator.

NTS: NTS’s Managing Director for Rail is Gottfried Eymer.

Technology

Class 88 locomotives: Environmentally friendly locomotives used by DRS.